At 12:47 PM 12/18/2008, jimf wrote:
>Hon. Finance Minister Flaherty & Members of Parliament
>
>Happy holidays. I am writing in response to your solicitation of
>input on how we can best focus any upcoming packages for financial
>stimulus of the economy. I know that your Government wishes to act
>in ethical manner, that you wish to act in ways that are consistent
>with the best available evidence, and that it must hard to lead a
>Government when too many Canadians are living in poverty and
>sleeping on our streets. I wish to provide a perspective on how an
>economic-stimulus package can best help Canadians.
>
>First, I would note that the free market has been effective in
>improving the overall health of Canadians. In contrast, the free
>market has been very ineffective in reducing health and social
>inequities among Canadians. Strong evidence suggests that during
>good times - the rich benefit more than the poor. During bad times,
>the poor suffer disproportionately more than the wealthy! The World
>Health Organization also recently stated that the most important
>problem facing all governments in the world is the need for a rapid
>reduction in health and societal inequities.
>
>Based on these considerations, I respectfully suggest that financial
>support should be provided in direct proportion to those who need it
>the most. That it, the poor (and initiatives that benefit them
>directly) should receive the greatest attention. The wealthy have
>benefited the most during the good times. Therefore, they should
>need the least support during these challenging times.
>
>This would suggest that infrastructure funding should be directed
>first toward the eradication of homelessness through a national
>housing program. It would also suggest that First Nations should
>benefit the most. To do otherwise, would be at odds with the
>evidence and ethics.
>
>In parallel, I suggest that your Government should have a public
>conversation regarding the profound disconnect between 1) the
>'evidence' re the 'true' determinants of the health of Canadians and
>the actions taken to date by governments. Namely, that the
>health-system is not the primary determinant of
>health. Socioeconomic factors are a far, far greater determinant of
>our health.
>
>I believe that the WHO was correct when they said that meaningful
>reductions in equities will require a "fundamental redistribution of
>wealth, power and resources". In this vein, I would also argue
>that any financial stimulus package should part of a larger,
>forceful and evidence-based package of policies and programs. This
>package should place the reduction of health and societal
>disparities at the pinnacle of planning, and allocations of human,
>financial, and structural resources by all levels of government.
>
>Specific actions could include: 1) creation of a national housing
>program, 2) greater allocations of human, financial, and structural
>resources toward ending homelessness, 3) a significant decrease in
>income taxes for persons living in poverty, 4) creation of
>legislated, precise federal targets for reducing poverty, and other
>health and societal inequities in Canada, 5) an increase in minimum
>wages across Canada, and 6) a pan-Government, federal review of the
>role and capacity of every federal department in reducing health and
>societal inequities.
>
>Finally, I would respectfully recommend that your Government
>publicly commit to gathering the best available evidence from across
>the globe on how to address the paramount question posed by the WHO
>- namely, "how can Governments act to rapidly reduce in health &
>societal inequities?" Government should then adapt/mimic the
>approaches used by those countries that have achieved fewer existing
>inequities.
>
>In my humble view, Canada, Canadians and our Government(s) will not
>be healthy until we succeed in greatly reducing the above
>inequities. Increasing wealth may be good for the health of
>Canadians however, it has done little to address societal
>inequities. I strongly encourage you and all members of Parliament
>to work with with federal, provincial/territorial, and municipal
>politicians to take the steps that will improve the health and
>quality of life of Canadians by reducing societal inequities.
>
>Best regards Dr. Jim Frankish
>
>Dr. Jim Frankish
>Professor & Director, Centre for Population Health Promotion Research
>College for Interdisciplinary Studies, and School of Population &
>Public Health (Medicine)
>Room 425, Library Processing Centre 2206 East Mall Vancouver BC V6T 1Z3
>O: 604-822-9205, F: 822-9210, C: 778-987-9205, [log in to unmask]
>Personal web - http://www.jimfrankish.com, Partners in Community
>Health Research Training Program, www.pchr.net
Dr. Jim Frankish
Professor & Director, Centre for Population Health Promotion Research
College for Interdisciplinary Studies, and School of Population &
Public Health (Medicine)
Room 425, Library Processing Centre 2206 East Mall Vancouver BC V6T 1Z3
O: 604-822-9205, F: 822-9210, C: 778-987-9205, [log in to unmask]
Personal web - http://www.jimfrankish.com, Partners in Community
Health Research Training Program, www.pchr.net
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